Fuel valve and nozzle cleaning mechanism for portable liquid fuel burners



111g. 9, 1949. c, BRAMMING 2,478,364-

FUEL VALVE AND NOZZLE CLEANING MECHANISM FOR PORTABLE LIQUID FUEL BURNERS Filed June 5. 1944 I 2 Sheets-Sheet l 7% 44a I Z 17 Z5 44 14a INVENTOR. Ch PL BRAMM/NG 4 770/? A/EY l949- c. BRAMMING 2,478,364

FUEL VALVE AND NOZZLE CLEANING MECHANISM FOR PORTABLE LIQUID FUEL BURNERS Filed June 5, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I l 'ig 57 INVENTOR. C #3 2L BRF) MM/NG;

/Wma A 7'TO/QNEY.

Patented Aug. 9, 1949 FUEL VALVE AND NOZZLE CLEANING MECH- ANISM FOR PORTABLE LIQUID FUEL BURNERS Carl Bramming, Anderson, Ind., assignor to Aladdin Industries, Incorporated, a corporation of Illinois Application June 5, 1944, Serial No. 538,748

The invention pertains to an improved construction of portable stove for burning liquid fuel, intended for use as a part of traveling or portable kits for soldiers, sportsmen, explorers and the like, as a result of which the size and weight of the stove must be kept as small as possible to facilitate its ready portability.

This invention is an improvement on my portable stove construction disclosed in U. S. patent application Serial No. 483,107, filed April 15, 1943, now Patent No. 2,465,572 issued March 29, 1949.

The object of the present invention is to simplify the construction and operation of the fuel valve mechanism heretofore proposed for portable stoves, and at the same time provide independent mechanism for cleaning the fuel nozzle of the stove when and as desired,without in any way increasing the size or weight of the stove over that required for the earlier construction thereof, the object being to reduce both the size and weight of the stove from said earlier construction, to the end that the stove may be more conveniently used for its intended purposes.

The stove disclosed is intended for operation with liquid fuel, for example gasoline, and the devices requisite for the proper burning of the fuel are incorporated in the stove, namely, a fuel valve to control the flow of the fuel from a reservoir to the burner, a generator for vaporizing the fuel, a burner housing, a fuel nozzle for delivering vaporized fuel into the burner housing, and collapsible pan supports on the casing of the stove. In addition to the structure referred to, the present construction includes nozzle cleaning mechanism having operating devices independent of the fuel valve mechanism, by which the discharge opening in the fuel nozzle may be cleaned when and as desired, without in any way interfering with the adjustment at the time of the fuel valve.

With portable stoves of the kind described, in view of the importance of maintaining the size and weight of the stove as small as can be done consistently with satisfactory operation of the stove, it is important to maintain all of the dimensions as small as possible without interfering with efficient operation. At the same time, the fuel reservoir of the stove must be of adequate size to contain sufficient fuelto maintain the operation of the stove for an appreciable time interval, to avoid the requirement of frequently replenishing the fuel supply. An important consideration with portable stoves is providing adequate Valve and generator mechanism, without producing a stove structure of undesirably large height. To produce an eificientxand compact construction, the fuel valve mechanism is placed directly above the reservoir,-the generator is located immediately above the valve mechanism, and the burner is located immediately'above' the 8 Claims. (Cl. 158-120) 2 l generator, with the result that the-structure is simple and at the same time effective. Experi ence has demonstrated that the v have an appreciable height in order to effectively vaporize the fuel, and that the burner housing must have a suitable height permitting the proper burning of the vaporized fuel in order to'efiectively utilize the heat of the burning fuel. In the present invention the fuel valve mechanism is of a simple form involving a single valve operated by a radially extending valve stem so that turning the valve stem opens and closes the valve. This permits making the valvehousing short vertically, and it facilitates extending the lower end of the housing directly into the fuel reservoir, and supporting the generator directly on the upper end of the valve housing. The nozzle cleaning mechanism of the invention is operated bydevices mounted in the valve housing itself, and to one side of the vertical axis of the valve hOlJS- ing, the said housing being. provided with a radial extension angularly spaced from the valve stem, which extension supports a vertically movable arm for operating the nozzle'cleaning devices, the supports of the movable arm and the valve stem being located in substantially the same-horl zontal plane. Connection is eifected betweenthe movable arm and the cleaning rod extending vertically to the nozzle, by means of a sliding block mounted in a vertical slot in the valve housing to one side of the fuel passage in the valve housing, and above said fuel passage said block is provided with an offset arm extending to the central portion of the valve housing to engage and support the cleaning rod substantially in the axis of the valve housing, the connection between the clean-- ing rod and the operating block being in the portion of the valve housinginvolved in connecting the generator of the stove with the valve housing, as a result of which the structure em-; ployed to support, and operate the cleaning rod does not require any increase whatever in the over-all vertical dimension of the ,valve housing. The cleaning rod referred to extends upwardly through the generator and is provided with a cleaning needle at its upper end for entry into the nozzle aperture as a result of moving the operating arm referred to, so that the nozzle aperture may be cleaned when and as desired without moving the valve stem from the position it may then have.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment thereof in which:

Fig. 1 illustrates the stove of the invention in vertical, central, sectional view,

Fig. 2 is a horizontal, sectional view of the valve construction shown in Fig. 1 taken along the line 2-2 in Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a vertical, sectional view through the generator must 3 structure shownin Fig.2 taken; along the line 3-3 in Fig.2, and

Fig. 4 is a horizontal, sectional view of the structure shown in Fig. 3 taken alOIlg the line 4-4 in Fig.3.

Similar numerals refer; :to "similar parts throughout the several views.

As shown in Fig. 1, the stove consists of a reser voir In which may be of co-nvenient'rsize and shape for the purpose described, "having-1am internally threaded collar H secured in the central portion of its upper wall, into which thelower end of the Valve housing [2 is tightly screwed. The upper end of the housing I2 is recessed to receive a connecting and packing ring I3 on which the IOWGP'BIld'Tfi theqgenerator l4--is"seated,aninternally threaded ring I5 being providedengaging external threads on the-:upper end of the housing IZto'tightly clamp the lower end of the generator against thering l3 and in turnto tightly clamp the ring l3againstethe upperend of the-housing l2. The upper end-pf the generator I4 is internally threaded to engagecorresponding externalthreads on, the nozzle" l6,- and. is'also externally threadedatits upper end to engage and support a- ;threadedring I! whichin-turnsua ports a burner housing 18p The nozzl i5 is provided with azdischarge aperture Hid by=which vaporized is d'elivered'into the burner housing 18;:and the generator M: contains screen ;mater-ialr-l' la to Eidfilnhreaking up and vaporizing thevfuelaso-thatithe-generator l4 may havea minimum-'vertical'height to accomplish its intended -purpose. '7: The sbumer. housing I B comprises inner and: :outer portions 18a; and I81). of siriiilar form andiangularlmmovable relativelynto eachz-other torregulate the effective size 1 of-openings: 19a; and- 191x150: that the' proper amount. of airamay beiadmitted to the burnenhousing to burnrthe' vaporizdelivered. into-the: same :by the nozzles l6. .Theburnenthousing supports arbafiie 20.:werthe-.znozzlez 16 to spread the flame in: the burner: 50' that itimay' be i distributed. to the *un dersideu of" the: articleazbeing heated, which may be azpan orrthe likesupportedby thezpansupports-2i ofwthe stove:whichrparrrsupports are pivotally mounted :atxZZuon a ring extending around the upperendmf the casing 23r-of the stove, saidsupportsrbeingzheldi in horizontal posithan ';by: a ring 24 'suppor-ted'rcin: its :lowermost positionby lugs 25' extending outwardly from the casing 23,-said'ring 24 being.movable verticaliy from alignment-with the supports 2 l when 4 it is desired to collapse said supports for packing the stove when not'in use, openings 23a being provided in the'casin 23 in alignment with the lowerarms of 'the su-pportszl and also with corrfisponding openings we and coin the burner ho l' s toreceive said-lower arms for the collapsed' condition of the supports 2 l. The ring 15 carrieson'its'upper end-a priming cup 26, and the ring 5 l1 is provided with a passageway ll'a through whichliquidfuel-may fiow downwardly from-above the ring [1 into the cup' 26 for starting the stove,the*-discharge of 5 fuel from thenozzle [6 at that time being in liquid condition becauseof' the'cold conditionof the stove, and thefu'el jetdelivered frorn the-nozzle striking the baflle zfl will drop-to the lowerpart'of' the burner housing and into the upper end of the ring *The lower portion ofthevalve housing [2 is providedwith a vertical axialbore z-l which is threaded at its lower portionto-engagecorresponding threads on theupper' endof a-tube zfl 4 extending .-downwardly .in the reservoir In to nearly the bottom thereof, said tube 28 being open and free from restriction throughout its entire length. The valve housing 12 has extending radially therefrom a first extension 29 con- .taining internal. threads to engage corresponding threads on. a valvestem 30, which stem is horizontally disposed and provided at its inner end .with a valve'member 3| for opening and closing the outer end. of: a horizontal passageway 32 co1nmunicating-witlri the bore 21. The valve housing is recessed at. 33.around the valve member 3 l, and from said recess an oblique passageway 34 extends' upwardly and towards the axis of the valve housin and opens in a-horizontal slot 35 in the upper .end of the valve housing. The slot 35 contains an arm 36a ofarsliding block 36"whicharm asmoreclearly shown-in-Fig. 3, extends laterally fromthe upper-end of the body portion of the block iifi somewhat beyond the axis of the valve housing I: the body portion of e blosl: 36 bein mounted forsliding movement in a vertical slot 3? in the valve housingwhich vertical slot is spaced radially from and free from communication with the bore 21' in :the'valve housing, the

verticali slot' 31 being displaced angularly from the housing eXtension'29 by axsuitable amount, fonexample 90. The valve housin i2v is pr0- vided-witha-second radial'extension' 38 to support a ball 39- through which the end portion of an operating rod 40 "extends, therod being continued beyond the ball 39 So that its extreme end portiontis contained-Yin a-recesstfib-in the block: '36 inlsuch ar'manner that rotating the'ball 39*byverticalmovementl'or the arm 43, will raise or lower the, block) 36. 'I'he' rod 49 is retained in the..ball-39 by'a.suitable'rcollar fia in any convenient manner, to prevent removal of the' rod from: the ball. The ball'38 issupported in the Y. housingextension 38 by'an'internally threaded ring 4! screwed on the outer end of said extent" sion, and by suitable packing material 32 pressed against said ball 'by said threaded ring. The outerend of the 40 is providedwith a knob 43 by which the rod 49 may be conveniently actu ated toin turnmove the block 36' vertically. The arm 3fiasof= the block 35 is internally threaded to engage corresponding threadson the lower end ofa vertically extending rod" t t'which, as shown in Fig. 1, extends upwardlythrough the screen material Mazand carries at its-upper end a vertically extending needle Ma formovement into the aperture iiia' oflthe; nozzle I6 when the block 36 israised: by the'operating rod.- 40.

As a result of the construction described, and as moreclearly shown in Fig. 2; it will appear that the. mounting devices'for the operating rod t and; the valve stem 30 are. in substantially the same" horizontal plane,: as a result of which no additional vertical height is required inthe stove structure as; a whole: by the independentl actuated nozzle-cleaning mechanism described.

.The valve-stem 30'is engagedby suitable Pack ingtrmaterial li held in place by an internally threaded ring screwed; on the outer end of the housingr-extensionit, an at its outer end said valve stem has secured thereto an operating disc or handle'i ll by which the valve stem maybe rotated to control the flow of fuel from the reservoir 1| 0 to theigenerator l4.

The'reservoir: 10 is preferably provided with an air pump ili'of any well known construction by which desiredalair pressure may be'produced in the reservoir it above theliquid fuel therein, the connection-of the pump to the reservoirbeing preferably of a kind permitting the ready removalof the pump so that the pump connection with the reservoir may also serve as a fuel-filling opening for the reservoir. The arm 36a of the block 36 loosely fits the horizontal slot 35, so that fuelintroduced into the lower portion of the slot through the passageway 34 will readily flow around said arm 36a and upwardly into the lower end of the generator l4.

While I have shown my invention in the particular embodiment above described, I do not limit myself thereto, as I may employ equivalents thereof without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

, 1. For use with a liquid fuel burning stove of the class described, controlling mechanism including in combination a valve housing having a fuel passage extending vertically therethrough from the lower end of said housing to the upper end thereof, a valve stem between the upper and lower ends of said housing and in threaded engagement therewith and extendinng horizontally therefrom and having at its inner portion avalve member for opening and closing said passage, said housing having therein a vertically extending slot spaced horizontally and separate from said passage and also from said valve stem, a block movable vertically in said slot and including at its upper portion an arm extending horizontally towards the vertical axis of said housing, said vertically extending slot having at its upper portion a horizontally continuing slot extending towards the vertical axis of said housing and loosely containing and guiding said arm, a nozzle-cleaning rod secured to and extending upwardly from said arm, and a vertically movable operating rod sup ported between the upper and lower ends of said housing and operatively engaging said block, whereby movement of said operating rod imparts vertical movement to said cleaning rod, said valve housing having at its upper and lower ends respectively generator-connection means and reservoir-connection means and having an over-all height that is the minimum required to house said valve stem and to carry both of said connection means.

2. For use with a liquid fuel burning stove of the class described, controlling mechanism including in combination a valve housing having a fuel passage extending vertically therethrough from the lower end of said housing to the upper end thereof, a valve stem between the upper and lower ends of said housing and in threaded engagement therewith and extending horizontally therefrom and having at its inner portion a valve member for opening and closing said passage, said housing having therein a vertically extending slot spaced horizontally and separate from said passage and also from said valve stem, 9, block movable vertically in said slot and including at its upper portion an arm extending horizontally towards the vertical axis of said housing, said vertically extending slot having at its upper portion a horizontally continuing slot extending towards the vertical axis of said housing and loosely containing and guiding said arm, a nozzlecleaning rod secured to and extending upwardly fromsaid arm, and a vertically movable operating rod supported between the upper and lower ends of said housing and operatively engaging said block, whereby movement of said operating rod imparts vertical movement to said cleaning rod, said housing including spaced radial extensions in substantially the same horizontal plane respectively supporting saidtvalve stem and said operating rod, said valve housing having at its upper and lower ends respectively generator-connection means and reservoir-connection means and having an "over-all height that is the minimum required to house said valve stem and to carry both of said connection means.

3. For use with aoliquid fuel burning stove of the class described, controlling mechanism including in combination a valve housinghaving a fuel passage extending vertically therethrough from the lower end :of said housing to the upper end thereof, a valve stem between the upper and lower ends of said housing and in threaded engagement therewith and extending horizontally therefrom and having at its inner portion a valve member for opening andzclosing said passage, said housing having'thereln a vertically extending slot spaced horizontally and separate from said passage and also from said valve stem, a block movable vertically in said slot and including at its upperportion an arm extending horizontally towards the-vertical axis of said housing, said vertically extending slot having at its upper portion a horizontally continuing slot extending towards the vertical axis of said housing and loosely containing and guiding said arm, a nozzle-cleaning rod secured to and extending upwardly from said arm, a vertically movable operating rod supported between the upper and lower ends of said housing and operatively engaging said block, whereby movement of said operating rod imparts vertical movement to said cleaning rod, and a bearing ball supported by said housing for angular movement and having a bore through which said operating rod extends, whereby vertical movement of the outer endof said operating rod imparts vertical movement in the reverse direction to said cleaning rod, said valve housing having at its upper and lower ends respectively generator-connection meansand reservoir-connection means and having an over-allheight that is the minimum required to house said valve stem and to carry both of said connection means.

4. For use with a liquid fuel burner of the class described, controlling mechanism including in combination a valve housing having a fuel passage extending vertically therethrough from the lower end of said housing to the upper end thereof. a valve stem extending horizon tally frosaid housing between theupper and lower ends thereof and in' threaded engagement therewith and-havin'g'at its inner portion a valve member for opening and closing said passage, said housing having therein a vertically extending slot spaced horizontally and separate from said passage and also from said valve stem, a'block movable vertically in said slot,a nozzle-cleaning rod secured to and extending-upwardly from said block, and a vertically movable operating rod supported betweenthe upper and lower ends of said housing and operatively engaging said block, whereby movementof said operating rod imparts vertical movement, to said cleaning rod, said valve stem and said'operating rod being horizontally displaced from each other, said valve housing having at its upper and lower ends respectively generator-c'onnection' means, and reservoir-connectio'n means and having an over-all height that is the minimum required to house said valve stem and to carry both of said connection means.

5. For use with a liquid fuel burner of the class ag rzaaee described, controlling. fmechanism including combination avalve housing having a fuel passage extending vertically therethrough from the lower'end of said housing to the upper. end thereofpa valve stem. extending horizontally from said housing between the upper and lower ends thereof and in threaded engagement therewith and having at its inner portion a valve memberfor opening and closing said passage, said:housing having therein a vertically extending slot spaced horizontally and separate'from said passage and also'fromsaidvalve-stem, a block movable verti'cally in said slot, a nozzle-cleaningrodsecured to and extending upwardly from said'-block,and 'verti ,ily movable operating rod supported between the upper and lower ends of said housing and soperatively engaging said block, 'whereby movementof said operating rod imparts vertical movement to said cleaning 'rod, said'valve stem and said operating rod being horizontally displaced from each other and located in, substantially the same horizontal plane, said valve housing having at its upper and lower ends respectively generator-connection. meansand reservoir-connection means and having an over-all height that the minimum required to house said valve stem andto. carry both of said connection means.

6.. For use with a liquid fuel burner of the class described, controlling mechanism including in combination a valve housing having a fuel passage extending vertically therethroughfrom the lowerend of said'housing to the upper endthereof, avalve stem extending horizontally from said. housing between the upper and lower ends thereof and in threaded engagementtherewith. and having'at' its inner portion a valve member for opening and closing said passage, said housing having therein a vertically extending slot spaced horizontally and separate from said passage and also: from said valve stem, a nozzle-cleaning rod secured to and extending upwardly from said block, and a vertically movable operating rod supported between the upper and lower ends of said housing and operatively engaging said block, whereby movement of said operating rod imparts a vertical movement to said cleaning rod, said valve stemand said-operating rod being horizontally displaced from each other, said housing including spaced radial extensions in substantially the same horizontal plane respectively supporting said valve stem and said operating rod, said valve housing having at its upper and lower ends respectively generator-connection means and reservoir-connection means and having an. over-all height that is the minimum required to house said valve sternv and to carry-both of said connection means. Y

,7. For use with a liquid fuel burner of the class described, controlling mechanism including in combination a valvehousing having a fuel passage extending vertically therethrough from the lower end of said housing tothe upper end thereof, a valvestem extending horizontally from said housingbetween the upper and lower ends thereof and inthreaded engagement therewith and having at its inner portion a valve member for opening and closingsaid passage, said housing. having therein avertically extending slot spaced horizontally and separate from said passage and also from said valve stem, a blockmovable vertically in said slot, a nozzle-cleaning rod secured to. and extending upwardlyfrom. said block, aivertically movable operating rod supported between the upper and lower ends of said. housing :and operatively engaging said block, whereby movement of said operating rod impattswvertical movement to said cleaning rod; said valve stem and said operating rod being horizontally displaced-from each other, and'ra bearing ball supported by said housing for angular movement and having a bore through which saidoperating rod extends, wherebyvertical movement of the outer end of said operating rodimparts vertical movement in the reverse direction tosaid'cleaning-rod, said valve housing having at its upper and lower ends respectively generatoreconnection means' and reservoir-connection means and having an over-all height that isthev minimum required tohouse said valve stem and to carry both of said connection means.

8. For use with a liquid fuel burner of the class described, controlling mechanism including 1 in combination a valve housing having a fuel passage extending-vertically therethrough from the lower end of said housing to the upper end thereof, av valve stem extendinghorizontally from said housing between the upper and lower ends thereof-and in threaded engagement therewith and having at its inner portion a valve memberfor opening and closing said passage, said housing having therein a vertically extending slot spaced horizontally and separate from said passage and also from said valve stem, a block movable vertically in said slot,'a nozzle-cleaning rod secured to and extending upwardly from said block, anda vertically movable operating rod supported between the upper and lower ends of said housing and operatively engaging said block, whereby movement of said operating rod imparts vertical movement to said cleaning rod, said valve stem and said operating rod being horizontally displaced from each other, said block including at its upper portion 'an arm extending towards and across the vertical axis of said housing and connected with said cleaning rod substantially in said vertical. axis, said valve housing having at its upper-and lower ends respectively generatorconnectionmeans and reservoir-connection means and having an over-all height that is the minimum required to house said valve stem and to carry both of said connection means.

CARL BRAMMING.

RE ER NCES CITED The following references are of record in the fileof thislpatentzv I w en ST TES PATENTS ,Tullis Nov. 21, 1944 

